Typhoon Hagibis Relief Fund

The Headquarters for Major Disaster Management in the Cabinet Office of Japan reported that Typhoon Hagibis left 99 deaths in 13 prefectures and affected 390 towns and cities as of February 12^th, 2020. AAR Japan has supported affected people in Miyagi, Fukushima, Nagano, and Tochigi prefectures since October 13^th, 2019, by providing soup-kitchen services. In addition, AAR Japan has carried out needs-assessments in welfare facilities affected by the typhoon during distributions of relief items.

Soup kitchen activities

On October 13^th, 2019, the next day Typhoon Hagibis made landfall in Japan, AAR Japan started soup kitchen activities in coordination with PEACE PROJECT, Japanese NGO founded after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake with missions to support vulnerable people, in Hoyasu district, Nagano prefecture. AAR Japan and PEACE PROJECT have so far held 17 soup kitchen sessions and provided 3,520 meals in Nagano, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. The most recent session took place at the civilian hall in Marumori city, Miyagi prefecture, on February 15^th, 2020.

The planned menus are traditional Japanese soup with fish, pork and Natto, and other side dishes as the local governments prepare boxed lunch for people staying at evacuation centers. Outside the centers, the menus change to curry rice, Gyu-don (a bowl of rice topped with beef), and other rice-included meals as main dishes because those staying home are not provided with boxed lunch. People are grateful for the meals as they were not able to cook themselves due in large part to water outage, which lasted almost three weeks after the disaster hit. Despite their plight and suffering, affected people living in the areas gave a hand to us for the soup kitchen activity.

Food and NFI (non-food items) distribution

Along with the soup kitchen activities, AAR Japan has distributed water and sanitary goods to 12 welfare facilities that run day care services for the elderly and people with disabilities (PWDs). These facilities were all flooded during the typhoon, with the water level reaching 78 inches from the ground level. Floods brought sludge inside the facilities, leaving the sanitary condition deteriorated. The facility staff members needed to ask the facility users to work together on cleaning the inside up because the staff members were overwhelmed simply because of the endless work and needed a hand. To make things worse, they were running out of sanitary goods, which were not readily available in the areas due to the high demands for the items and damaged logistics infrastructure. Facility staff members were delighted and thankful to the support from GlobalGiving as the items were the needed assistance and helpful to overcome their situations.

In general, AAR Japan conducts needs-assessments in order to design mid-term rehabilitation projects during emergency distributions. Of the 37 facilities AAR Japan carried out needs-assessments in Miyagi, Fukushima, Tochigi, Nagano, and Saitama prefectures, AAR Japan has decided to focus on seven facilities, which the disaster forced them to suspend their services, and distributed items necessary to restarting the facilities' services. These facilities are located in the worst-hit areas of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Nagano prefectures, and are in need of external assistance as support from the government cannot cover all the costs for reopening the facilities.

AAR Japan plans to expand its activities to Saitama prefecture and continues to support welfare facilities in the reconstruction of facility buildings and the repair of damaged equipment so that these facilities will be able to restart their services for the elderly and PDWs.

“Can you help us...?”

We received a phone call from a kindergarten in Fukushima. This kindergarten is located in Soma city, which is one of the worst-hit places by Typhoon Hagibis. AAR Japan had worked with this kindergarten before , when 3.11 / Great East Japan Earthquake happened, to assist their recovery. This kindergarten has 140 children, from age 0 to 6.

They were affected by Typhoon Hagibis because the nearby river got flooded. They told us the water went above floor and the sludge was all over the place. Although they cleaned up and reopened two weeks after the typhoon, they were unable to get sanitation items from the local government nor purchase them anywhere near them. With no way of ensuring the hygienic standard for their children, they gave us a call asking for our help.

We went to see the situation right after the call and first gave them disinfecting spray, anti-norovirus antiseptic and medicated gargle/mouthwash. There was strong smell still lingering so we gave them disinfectant deodorants.

 The children opened the box and showed us big smile.(23 Oct./Soma city, Fukushima)

“We had items such as children's medical masks and water prepared for a disaster, but we didn't have sanitizers and we couldn't buy them anywhere. I was glad that we received help from AAR.” Said Mr. Nobutomo Wada, the head of the kindergarten. It seemed that He was relieved but at the same time, he also said “I didn't expect to be in a situation like this again many years after 3.11 / the Great East Japan Earthquake ...”

Currently the water is back and the kindergarten is open, but they still face so many difficulties. They can’t get enough ingredients for school meals because the local stores are not fully functioning. And the sludge is still under the floor.

Hygiene issues and Risk of infectious diseases

In Fukushima Prefecture, 30 people have been confirmed dead, the highest number of all prefectures. Over 16,000 homes got severely damaged.(including complete/half destruction and flooding.) Currently, 1,525 people are still at the evacuation facilities. Power and water outages, road closures, and railway suspensions still continue in some areas. (announced on 31 Oct., by the Cabinet Office Emergency Disaster Response Headquarters)

“Himawari-no-ie”(House of sunflower) is a welfare facility for persons with disability in Soma city which was also affected by the typhoon Hagibis. When we visited them few days after the typhoon, everyone was taking the mud out of the facility and lining up the ruined furniture and equipment outdoors. After the water got back and running, they were finally able to clean them with water. When we visited Soma City on 23 Oct., we were relieved to see people with somewhat more relaxed expressions than last week.

On the other hand, we are also facing new problems, Infectious disease. As soon as I entered Soma City this time, my nose got irritated and my throat became a little painful. Dust seems to be in the air because the muddy water has dried.

We provided “Himawari-no-ie ” hygiene products such as disinfecting spray. “The air got really dusty after the sludge got dried and I was worried about hygiene.” said Ms. Rie Kanno the facility manager. At the time of disaster, the risk of infectious diseases is severely increased, because of bacteria contaminated mud/sludge, water outage and large spread of influenza and norovirus due to group life in evacuation facilities.

AAR staff Asano Takeji handing out hygiene products to Ms. Rie Kanno, the facility manager of “Himawari-no-ie ”. (23 Oct./Soma city, Fukushima)

AAR Japan will keep delivering necessary supplies for people affected by The Typhoon Hagibis.